Land of Museums

Estonia is a Land of Museums

As a land of museums, Estonia is much larger than its area or population might suggest, i.e. we have over two hundred museums. In the last couple of decades, great changes have occurred in our museum world. It is no longer “stagnant water”, as museums were once thought to be, but are rippling quite briskly. The opening of Kumu and the Seaport Harbour in 2006 and 2012, respectively, has been significant for Estonian museum life, as has been the subsequent opening of the Estonian National Museum and redesign of the History Museum. New museums continue to be opened and existing museums are being reconstructed. Collections are acquiring valuable additions, and expositions are more and more daringly moving away from the predictable areas and turned to previously unexplored “fringe areas”. In terms of the expositions’ technical execution and means of expression, Estonian museums are really at the forefront in the world context. We are also proud that our museums are accessible to people with various special

needs. Museums are paying more and more attention to the provision of experiences and entertainment aspects, but this has not changed the principles of our work. We still believe that museums are organisations based on trust: all the information that is provided must be true and be based on the materials in the museum’s collections, which is well kept, well-researched, elucidated and checked. This is the only way that trustworthy exhibitions can be created.

Urmas Dresen,

Director of Maritime Museum